Sign lighting system

Abstract

A real estate sign post having a crossbar on which a modular lighting unit is secured by two theft-resistant screws having non-circular holes in their heads and shielded by upstanding walls on mounting brackets. The lighting unit is enclosed in a box-like housing with a solar panel in the top side, slot-like lamp openings at opposite ends of the bottom side, and elongated arrays of LED's mounted in concave reflectors for directing light toward opposite sides of a real estate sign. Battery packs enclosed in shrink wrap and a controller are enclosed in the housing. An alternative embodiment mounts fluorescent bulbs in reflectors that are supported on opposite sides of a base unit by elongated arms.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 608,032 filed on Sep. 8, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to outdoor lighting systems, and more particularly to lighting systems for outdoor signs. [0003] Although night lighting of signs such as roadway signs, motel signs and signs for various businesses is known, the technology for such lighting is relatively complex and expensive and usually required substantial time and effort for installation. One type of outdoor signs for which practical night lighting has not been provided is real estate signs of the type posted on properties indicating “For Sale” or “For Lease” status. These typically contain relevant listing information such as the names of the selling broker and / or agent, telephone numbers and the like, and are lighted on...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The present invention resides in a simple, inexpensive and very effective lighting system for outdoor signs, and particularly for real estate signs, that can be produced in modular form to be mounted quickly and easily on the typical post structure to illuminate a sign for an additional time period after natural light ceases. The lighting system is enclosed in an easily mounted housing and includes at least one, and preferably two, lighting assemblies positioned to illuminate one, or preferably two, sides of a sign, and a rechargeable energy system, preferably with a built-in solar-powered generator that provides energy for the lighting assemblies after darkness falls, preferably terminating the lighting after a sufficient length of time. The system includes one or more theft-resistant fasteners which hold the housing securely on the post and discourage theft or tampering by making removal of the housing difficult.

Problems solved by technology

The system includes one or more theft-resistant fasteners which hold the housing securely on the post and discourage theft or tampering by making removal of the housing difficult.

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